SHILDON MAN MARK MCGUINNESS TO BE SENTENCED FOR VIOLENCE NEXT MONTH
A County Durham man assaulted two women in a series of domestic violence offences “against a background of deteriorating mental health”, a court was told.Mark McGuinness appeared at a plea hearing at Durham Crown Court via video link from HMP Holme House, in Stockton, where he has been on remand.
He pleaded guilty to all five charges put to him, arising from a series of domestic-related incidents, in Cheshire Place, Bishop Auckland, on Sunday July 27 this year.
McGuinness admitted two counts of assault causing actual bodily harm, on two different female complainants, intentional strangulation of one, threatening a person with a bladed article, a kitchen knife, and criminal damage to internal doors and household items.
His counsel, Shaun Dryden, said the guilty pleas were made on “the full facts” put forward by the prosecution.
He asked the court to allow preparation of a background report on the defendant by the Probation Service before he is sentenced.
Mr Dryden said: “His last offence was in 1997, and these offences appear to have taken place against a background of deteriorating mental health.
“We’ll be seeking to produce medical records rather than a full psychiatric report.” Recorder Tom Moran agreed to the adjournment for the preparation of the probation report.
He told McGuinness: “You have, sensibly, pleaded guilty and that will significantly reduce the sentence you will receive.
“The court will need to know more about your circumstances before you are sentenced.
“There’s no indication, at the moment, as to what the sentence will be.” He remanded 56-year-old McGuinness, of Thornhill Gardens, Shildon, to remain in custody pending the sentencing hearing on October 3.
